"A School Story" by Andrew Clements

Summary of The School Story by Andrew Clements
Natalie has written a novel and wants to publish it.  Her friend Zoe encourages her and helps by suggesting the use of a pen name so Natalie's mother, who is an editor at a big children's publishing company, might objectively evaluate her writing.  Her book is a big hit once published.  This is a great book for demonstrating the complications and procedures of attempting to publish a book. 

Clements, A. (2001).  The School Story. New York, New York:  Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division.

Personal Impressions of The School Story by Clements
This is an easy way to inform children about the process of publishing a book.  Many children may be interested in writing a book to be published and this book may answer some of their questions.  The plot is interesting as well, since the mother of the writer works for a children's publishing company.  The daughter's attempt and determination to go to great lengths so that her work is considered makes a great story.  She perseveres and doesn't give up.  Not only does Natalie have to use a pen name, her friend Zoe rounds up some help from adults to help present the submission to appear as if a grown-up did it.  The girls desire to be honest about everything (except the pen name) is very honorable and wholesome.  What a surprise to everyone that the writer was a child!  It's a positive message for children to acknowledge that they can contribute to society even though they are young.

Reviews of The School Story by Clements

"A world-class charmer, Clements (The Janitor's Boy) woos aspiring young authors—as well as grown up publishers, editors, agents, parents, teachers, and even reviewers—with this tongue-in-cheek tale of a 12-year-old novelist's triumphant debut. Sparked by a chance comment of her mother's, a harried assistant editor for a (surely fictional) children's imprint, Natalie draws on deep reserves of feeling and writing talent to create a moving story about a troubled schoolgirl and her father. First, it moves her pushy friend Zoe, who decides that it has to be published; then it moves a timorous, second-year English teacher into helping Zoe set up a virtual literary agency; then, submitted pseudonymously, it moves Natalie's unsuspecting mother into peddling it to her waspish editor-in-chief. Depicting the world of children's publishing as a delicious mix of idealism and office politics, Clements squires the manuscript past slush pile and contract, the editing process, and initial buzz ("The Cheater grabs hold of your heart and never lets go," gushes Kirkus). Finally, in a tearful, joyous scene—carefully staged by Zoe, who turns out to be perfect agent material: cunning, loyal, devious, manipulative, utterly shameless—at the publication party, Natalie's identity is revealed as news cameras roll. Selznick's gnomic, realistic portraits at once reflect the tale's droll undertone and deftly capture each character's distinct personality. Terrific for flourishing school writing projects, this is practical as well as poignant. Indeed, it "grabs hold of yourheart and never lets go.""
Review by Kirkus Reviews and Retrieved from Barnes & Noble Editorial Reviews on September 17, 2010. 


"Natalie is writing a book—a good book. The problem is, how does a twelve-year-old girl get a book publisher to take her seriously? Her friend Zoe comes to the rescue by becoming her imaginative and surprisingly competent literary agent. Careful and credible plotting makes this unlikely adventure almost believable. Aspiring young writers will be particularly interested, but should understand that today's demanding market isn't likely to find a twelve-year-old to be professional enough to publish. Nevertheless, readers will be dying to find out if Natalie succeeds, and will gain a lot of accurate and interesting information about slush piles and the publishing industry. Minus the credibility problem, this is an engaging story, though the beginning chapters lack some of the immediate vitality of Clements' earlier works. Black-and-white drawings lend additional interest to the already strong characters."
Review by Betty Hicks of Children's Literature Reviews and Retrieved from Barnes & Noble on September 17, 2010.

Suggestions for Use in a Library or School
How about a display for how to publish a book?  Include this book and other information in a display.  For a school, use as a writing prompt.  Do you think it is easy to get a book published?  Why?  What would you write about if you could publish a book?